Bill O’Reilly Taking Vacation Amid Sexual Harassment Scandal

Last night, Fox News host Bill O’Reilly announced on his show The O’Reilly Factor that he would be taking a vacation with his family. While the break seems timed in tandem with the withdrawal of dozens of advertisers and a sexual harassment scandal that has seen Fox pay $13 million in settlements to the women who have accused O’Reilly, the host claimed that he had planned this trip “last fall”.

O’Reilly spokesperson Mark Fabiani told CNNMoney that O’Reilly would return to the program on April 24, and in his absence, a series of rotating hosts would anchor the show. “Other than the vacation guest hosts, The Factor broadcast will remain unchanged until Mr. O’Reilly’s return post-vacation,” Fabiani said. A report from New York Magazine, however, notes that two sources have claimed that the Murdoch family is currently divided on how to handle the O’Reilly scandal; 21st Century Fox CEO James Murdoch would apparently like to see O’Reilly taken off the air for good, while his father Rupert and older brother Lachlan are lobbying to keep him. This dynamic was played out previously last summer in the midst of the sexual harassment claims against former Fox chairman and CEO Roger Ailes, which evidently saw things go James’ way (Ailes resigned).

The accusations against the embattled, outspoken O’Reilly were revealed after a New York Times investigation found “a total of five women who have received payouts from either Mr. O’Reilly or the company in exchange for agreeing to not pursue litigation or speak about their accusations against him”. O’Reilly has continually denied these claims.